Experts from the American Geriatrics Society have published a clinical practice guideline for postoperative delirium in older adults. The guideline is intended to improve the clinical care of adults aged 65 and older through prevention and treatment of delirium in the postoperative setting.

Postoperative delirium is the most common neurologic surgical complication among older patients, with incidence rates ranging from 15% to 50% in published studies. Yet, evidence suggests it is preventable in as many as 40% of cases. Delirium can lead to higher rates of morbidity, mortality, and institutionalization and can prolong rehabilitation and recovery from surgery. It can also lead to long-term cognitive and functional impairment, with 20% to 30% of patients never fully recovering from delirium.

Recent survey results have shown that surgeons and surgical trainees consider delirium as the top area in which more training and understanding is needed. This strong interest has converged with evolving expertise and a great deal of new literature in the field. Recently, Sharon K. Inouye, MD, MPH, Thomas Robinson, MD, and a multidisciplinary panel of experts from organizations participating in the American Geriatrics Society Geriatrics-for-Specialists Initiative helped develop the first guideline in the United States that addresses postoperative delirium. Published on GeriatricsCareOnline.org and in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, the guideline emphasizes that although postoperative delirium is common among patients aged 65 and older, it can be prevented with relatively simple efforts.

Important Recommendations

Based on the consensus of the expert panel, the guideline includes eight strong recommendations that Dr. Inouye feels are the most important for clinicians to understand (Table). “Of those eight strong recommendations, the panel felt most strongly that multi-component, non-pharmacologic intervention should be the mainstay of delirium prevention,” she says. “This intervention should be delivered by a skilled and experienced interdisciplinary team to patients deemed at risk for delirium, including those who are older than 65, patients who are frail, and those who have preoperative cognitive impairment.”

The following non-pharmacologic interventions are recommended:

Patients should be oriented to the time of day and their surroundings several times per day. Family members can help in providing this orientation.

Patients should be ambulated at least twice a day as soon as safely possibly following an operation but within the restrictions of the surgery.

Eyeglasses and hearing aids should be made available and worn by patients, if applicable, to maintain orientation.

Adequate hydration and nutrition should be ensured by physicians.

Good sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques should be promoted.

The panel also felt strongly that a medical evaluation be conducted as quickly as possible after patients present with delirium in order to identify and manage causes of delirium. Preoperative screenings should determine if patients have ever had delirium, have had underlying cognitive impairment or dementia, or have had other delirium risk factors. “We also strongly recommend that pain management be optimized to prevent delirium, preferably with non-opioid medications or with only modest doses of opioids,” Dr. Inouye says. “Medications with a high risk for delirium should also be avoided in the elderly.”

A great deal of uncertainty appears to exist among clinicians regarding the use of anti-psychotics for managing delirium, according to Dr. Inouye. “The panel felt strongly that the current evidence in the literature does not support the use of anti-psychotic medications because the benefits do not appear to outweigh the risks,” she says. “These medications should be reserved for delirious patients who are severely agitated or distressed or who are threatening harm to themselves or others. If anti-psychotics need to be used, they should be used for the shortest duration possible and reassessed daily.” Dr. Inouye adds that more research is needed in this area to determine if lower doses of anti-psychotics may be effective or if alternate pharmacologic approaches are more beneficial.

A Team Effort

The guideline stresses the importance of ongoing training and education among clinicians to better understand the epidemiology, assessment, prevention, and treatment of delirium. Dr. Inouye and colleagues have developed the Hospital Elder Life Program, available at www.hospitalelderlifeprogram.org. This widely implemented program has been well-tested and has been widely used to effectively prevent delirium and falls in surgical patients and to reduce healthcare costs.

Dr. Inouye notes that it is also important for clinicians to encourage nursing and support staff on their unit to undergo training so that they will all be aware of what delirium prevention and management entails. The involvement of other interdisciplinary team members is also critical for success. “For instance, making sure a pharmacist is involved is paramount to avoiding the use of high-risk medications and any potential drug–drug interactions,” she says. “It also assures that appropriate doses are being used. Pharmacists should notify clinicians of any inappropriate medications that are being used in elderly patients. They can also help titrate pain medication and ensure that non-opioid medications are being used in the most appropriate and safe manner. Effective delirium care requires a coordinated team effort, and delirium prevention measures should be put into place immediately in at-risk patients.”